Business & Commercial Law

Special types of laws affect businesses, and may depend on what form the business chooses to operate under. Other issues involve general day-to-day operations and contract matters that might be the same whatever form you take.

• Formation —The start of a business venture is the best time to make many important decisions. There are several forms of business entities in South Carolina including sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, corporations, close corporations, and limited liability corporations. There are also important tax elections that need to be made. How you start can determine whether or not your personal assets are placed at risk by the business you run and how your business is taxed. Signing contracts with vendors and customers before incorporation can work to your disadvantage over time. Agreements you make with your business associates at an early stage can prevent arguments and costly battles when it comes to a parting of the ways.
   
• Contracts — Contracts are the life-blood of a business. Poorly negotiated contracts or contracts with hidden clauses can create a serious problem for an unsuspecting business. We can help draft standard contracts that your business can use over and over again for a particular need; we can also negotiate and draft those infrequent agreements that will cost or earn your company a lot of money.
   
• Trademarks —Trademarks, copyrights and patents are a part of the law known as intellectual property. This area is designed to protect your ideas, often before they are transformed into products. Trademarks are symbols or names your company uses that help identify the items you manufacture in the minds of your customers. When you work hard to establish the reputation associated with them, you want to make sure your trademarks are protected against misuse by others